2. Bill Walsh Knows Best, and It’s the NFC West for God’s Sake

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The coaching paths of Hall of Famer Bill Walsh and Jim Harbaugh are quite similar. Both coached the Stanford Cardinal before joining the Niners, and both are talking over a mediocre San Francisco team.

Walsh backed Harbaugh at Stanford in 2007, and even talked to the team at Harbaugh’s first spring practice.

Not worth a lot, but if the late Bill Walsh approved of Harbaugh at Stanford, then he has to be the chosen one because Walsh knows best.

Besides all those comparisons between Walsh and Harbaugh, another reason why hiring Harbaugh could immediately pay off is the fact that the 49ers play in the NFL’s weakest division.

Arizona, Seattle, and St. Louis are all in midst of rebuilding and finding their new identities. The NFC West is up for grabs, and the Niners have to take advantage of it.

1. He Will Turn Alex Smith into the Best QB Possible

The offense of a football team depends heavily on the performance of a single person­­—the quarterback—and that has been the weak point of the San Francisco 49ers in recent years.

Does Alex Smith have talent? Yes, no question about it. Does he show it? No! The seven-year veteran and former No.1 overall draft pick has been unable to perform consistently on the highest level.

Jim Harbaugh might be the perfect man to turn Alex Smith into a Pro Bowler.

Harbaugh, who played 14 years as a NFL quarterback, made the assertion that coaching has a huge impact on a quarterback’s performance. While playing for former Indianapolis Colts coach Lindy Infante, Harbaugh exceeded all expectations and was selected to the 1995 Pro Bowl.

"I went to the Pro Bowl playing for Lindy and up until that point, I wasn't thought of as a good quarterback at all," Harbaugh toldESPN. "But coaching made a difference."

If somebody can turn Alex Smith into a Pro Bowl type of quarterback then it will be Jim Harbaugh.